Spence M. Armstrong

Spence M. Armstrong
Spence M. Armstrong
	Armstrong in 1987
Nickname	"Sam"
Born	13 March 1934; Columbia, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	15 November 2025 (aged 91)
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Air Force
Service years	1956–90 (34 years)
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands	Vice Cmdr, AFSC; Vice Cmdr, MAC; US Military Training Mission; Air Force Military Training Center; 80th Flying Training Wing;
Conflicts	Vietnam War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Air Force Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross;
Other work	NASA

Spence M. "Sam" Armstrong (13 March 1934 – 15 November 2025) was a retired three-star general, combat veteran, and test pilot in the United States Air Force (USAF). In his thirty-four years of military service, he served in command assignments at five different levels in the USAF and retired as vice commander of Air Force Systems Command.

Armstrong spent eleven more years as a senior executive at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) leading the agency's human resources efforts and programs with academia.